Traction machine



R. BRUER TRACTION MACHINE Filed March 4, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mamey',

May 7, 1929. R BRUER 1,711,719

TRACTION MACHINE Filed March 4, 1927 s sheets-sheet 3' Patented May 7, 1929.

rmiran.` srATi-:s

PATENT ojiFFificE..

Vantimonia naunnjor sPEYEn-oN-THE-RHINE, GERMANY.

fraAcTroN MACHINE.

Application ledMarch 4, 1927, Serial No. `172-,814,and in V,(1rermany March 4, 1926.

My invention relates to improvements in traction machines which are adapted for pulling or pushing loaded and 4unloadedvehicles. One of the objects of the improve- 5 ments is to provide atraction machine Which is adapted to move @heavy vehicles, and Which can be easily and rapidly steered. Another object of the improvements is -to provide amachine Which can be used for operating the gearing of turntablesycranes'and the like. With these objects in viewmy invention consists in providing a Wheeled traction machine equipped at oneor both ends With members adapted to be moved in vertical direction for partly supporting the vehicle to be moved, thesaid members being constructed vso that they 'are in rictiona'l engagement With the said vehicle and `are-so disposed that thesaid frictional engagement is not interfered with when driving through curves of small radius. In addition to the mechanism for driving the traction machine means are provided for connecting the motor ofthe machine With the driving mechanism of other'machinery such as turntables,

cranes and the like; p

AFor the purpose of explaining the invention an example Yembodying the samefhas been shown in the accompanying drawing iny Which the same letters of reference lhave been used in all the views to indicate corresponding parts. In said drawings,

Fig- 1,'is an elevation showing-the `traction machine,

Fig. 2, is atop plan vievv of. Fig. l,

Fig. 3, isa partial velevation partly in section showing the manner of connecting the machine With a vehicle, i

Fig. 4L, is a top plan View of Fig. 3 partly in section,

Fig. 5, is dia-grammaticalplanview showing my improved traction machine 'as used in Vconnection With the driving mechanism of 'a turntable,

Fig. l6, is a sectional elevation taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7, is 1-sectional elevation taken on the line 7-7 oi Fig. 5.

Inlthe-example described hereinafter reference Will be made Lto -a traction machine designed for moving :railway cars. *But I Wish it to be understood that my invention is Inot limited to such use.

.As shown my improved traction machine comprises a frame composed lof aplate 6, vside members-61, end'members 10, and a cage 62 provided with a seat 46 -for the engineer.

The end members 10 are-connected With Ithe their ends, and on 1Which `Wheels 50 are mounted. 'It appears therefore that the plate comprising the `main :part of the irame r1s elastically'supported on 'the Wheels v50. t the bottom partl of the cage 62 a motor 4 isjprovided,the shaftfl of Which is connected by chainand sprocketgearings 3 With the axles v2.

On the end members 10 supporting members l1 are provided,'w'hieh` are'adapted to be extended in Avertical'direction torr engaging the front or rear part of the frame of a car. The `said supporting members jare adapted to be shifted transversely lof kthe traction machine, forfwhich purpose they are mountedy on segmental guide Ways 52, and connected by arms 53 Wit-h vertical pivot bolts 12 fixed to the plate `6. If desired, anti-friction bearings may be provided for the supporting umembersll in order Lto reduce the frictionofsaid members on the therein, the pipes 13i'orsupplying pressure liquid to the said jacks being passed through the pivot bolts l2'and to a pipe lll-'connected with a suitable-pump. The said pump is adapted to be operated by hand or fromthe motor,I the said operating or the controlling means being located nearthe engineers seat 46. Suitable mechanical oI-)eratingmeans forthe jacks 11 may consist for example ot' Worm Vgearings or toothed racks and chain and sprocket gearings vpermitting operation of the jacks from the engineers seat. In any case the construction should be so that the transverse movement of the supporting members is not interfered with. For connecting the vehicle with the traction. machine suitable couplingpmeans are provided. As appears more rparticularly from Figs. 3 and 4, at the height of the hook 22 of the vehicle, coupling vmeans are secured to the cage 62, which coupling means are adapted to be adjusted in longitudinal direction according to the length of' the buffers of the vehicle, so that the buffers are in engagement with the traction machine when using the saine for pushing the cars, while the coupling means are operative when pulling the cars. Further, the said connection prevents the" traction machine from being elevated at the end remote from the i vehicle by the pressure exerted on the supporting member 11 by the frame of the vehicle, which is particularly important when starting the movement of the'vehicle. To the cage 62 a pair of angle irons 16 are fixed which provide bea-rings for a cranked shaft 17 formed with a handle 23. The cranked portion of the said shaft is embraced by an eye 18 of a screw-bolt 54 screwing in a bushing 19 provided with an arm From the opposite side a screw 2O screws in the said bushing 19, which screw is rotatably mounted in a bore of a ring 21 adapted to engage the hook 22 of the vehicle. vThe screws and 54 are provided respectively with left and right screw threads, so that when turning the bushing 19 the length of the coupling is enlarged or reduced. F orconnecting the coupling to the hook 22, the cranked shaft 17 is rocked with its cranked portion outwardly, in which po` sition the ring 21 can be placed ou the hook 22. Thereafter the cranked shaft 17 is turnedto` the right, whereupon the coupling is in reliable engagement with the hook 22. The handle 23 may be provided with suitable gearing for operation from the seat 46 of the engineer. In the example shown in theligures the cranked shaft 17 is horizontal. But I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to this feature, and that in some cases the said shaft is disposed vertically, in which case the gearing for operating the same from theseat of the driver is more simple in construction.

'Vhen driving through curves the hook 22 is moved laterally and away from the median axis of the vehicle, by reason of the eye 18 engaging the cranked portion of the shaft 17. Thus the coupling follows the said lateral displacement.

The connection ofthe buffers 56 with the yframe of the traction machine is effected through the intermediary of a leaf spring 24 rockingly mounted at 47 and adapted to engage the buffers by means of blocks 25 fixed to the ends of the leafspring. lll/'hen driving through curves the buffers cause the spring 241- to rock about the fulcruin 4:7, so that the engagement of the buffers with the traction machine is not interfered with. In. some cases in lieu of the leaf spring2d a. rigid rocking` beam is provided, which is adapted for engagement with the buffers. As shown the leaf springs 24 are disposed within the cage V62. In some eases l mount the saine outside the said cage. By being mounted on the segmental guide way 52 also, the supporting member 11 follows thelateral displacement of the front part ofthe frame of the vehicle driving through curves. 'llhus dangerous braking pressures 4are avoided, which would cause lossof energy.V

In a modification of the apparatus l prof vide two supporting members such as` 11 at both sides of the frame of the traction machine, which supporting members engage the frame below the buffers. My traction machine can also be used for driving the vehicle to the work shop in case one of the axes thereof is broken.

The end parts of the frame of the machine, which when using the same are passed below the end parts of the frame of the vehicle, are comparatively low, so that they do not interfere with certain parts of the equipment of the vehicles disposed below the said end part of the frame, such for example as parts of the brake system, the heating system etc. l

n some cases I provide my improved ma-V chine with subsidiary mechanism by means of which it may be used for various purposes, for example for driving other machinery used on the track., such for eX- ample as cranes, turntables and the like.. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, at one side of the machine a. gearing is provided, which is adapted to be connected with the motor shaft 51 by means of a clutch 33 through the intermediary of a chain and sprocket gearing 33 and a shaft 56, the said clutch being constructed so that it is adapted to connect the motor shaft 51 either with the chainv and sprocket gearing 3 for driving the traction machine, or with the chain and sprocket gearing 33', so that only one of the said operations can be performed at a time. The `said subsidiary gearing ris mounted on a bracket 57 fixed to one of the side ymeinbers 61 of the frame of the machine, and it comprises a rotary shaft 26 connected with the shaft 56 by means of a bevel gear 53, a frame 31 rockable and longitudinally shiftable on the shaft 26, a: shaft 27 mount ed in the frame 31, spur gears 29 yand 28 connecting the shafts 26'and 27, and a spur gear 30 keyed to the shaft 27 and adapted to be thrown into engagement with the gearing of the machinery to be driven from the motor f1. t will be understood that the c wheel of the driving mechanism of the turntable, the clutch 33 is set into position for disconnecting thevdriving mechanism 3 from the motor shaft and connecting thereto t-he chain and sprocket gearing 33', and the motor is started. After turning the turntable into the desired position the clutch 33 is a again set into position for disconnecting the chain and sprocket gearing 33 from the motor shaft, and connecting thereto the driving mechanism ofthe traction machine, whereupon the vehicle is removed from the turntable. v

In many cases the length of the turntable will not be suiiicient to support both the vehicle and the .traction machine. Therefore, I provide the turntable with an extension permitting the traction machine to be placed thereon together with the vehicle. A suitable construction has vbeenshown in Figs. and 6. `As appears from the said figures, an annular rail 34 is located all around the turntable, and on the said rail a segmental rail 34a provided with rollers 35 is movable, the said segmental rail providing a support for rail extensions 38a disposed in alignment with the rails 59 of the turntable. The segmental rail is connected with the turntable by means of a plate 36 connected with the turntable by means of a yuniversalcjoint 37 permitting the said plate to yield upwardly and about the longitudinal axis of the turntable, so that the plate yields to any displacements of the segmental rail 34a. At the rear of the said plate stop members 39 are provided, which are adapted to hold the plate in the proper position when turning the turntable and the rail 34a. Preferably, the segmental rail 34@L is madein sections connected with each other'by a hinge 48 or the like.

At the side of the rails 59 driving mechanism for the turntable is provided, and the said driving mechanism comprises a cranked frame rockingly mounted on the turntable at 41, theA said frame being elastically supported on a spring 60 and acted upon by a screw screwing in a bail 43 and adapted to force the frame 40 downwardly. ln the cranked portion of the frame 40 a roller 42 is mounted on a shaft 63 which roller is in engagement with the rail 34. To the shaft 63 a bevel gearing 45 is keyed which' is in mesh with a bevel gear wheel 64 keyed to a shaft 44 mounted on the frame 40 and having a spur gearing 32 keyed thereto. The said spur gearing 32 is adapted for engagementl with the aforesaid spur gear 30 shown inl Figs. 1 andj2. By means of the screws 65 and the spring 60 the pressure on the roller 42 can be regulated at will, so lthat the friction between thesaid roller and the rail 34 is 'suiiicient to turn the turntable.

llVhcn using the turntable in connection with the traction machine, the said traction machine moves vthe vehicle on the rails 59, and,if the length of the turntable is not sufficient, one of the axles of the machine is supported on the extension 38a. Preferably,

the supporting member 15 is first lowered, in order to release the end part ofthe Vturntable yand more particularly the extension 33a thereof from the pressure -of the vel1icle,whereupon the mechanism comprising the gear wheel 30 is operated in the manner described above for turning the turntable, the driving power of the motor 4 being transmitted to the roller 42.

If it is desired to opel-atea crane by means of the motor 4, the gear wheel' 30 is thrown into engagement with a part of the driving mechanism of thel said crane. Otherwise, the traction machine can also be used for moving the crane on the track.

From the Aabove description of the invention it appears that by supporting or partly supporting one endof the vehicle on the supporting member or jack llheavy loads can be'moved by means of vthe-traction engine, andl that by having the said supporting member movable transversely ofthe machine the proper engagement between the same and the frame of the vehicle is not interfered with when driving through curves. yOrdinarily the frictional-engagement between the supporting-member and the vehicley will be suiiicient for moving the vehicle. But in some cases, and more particularly in case of jars it is desirable to have a positive connection between the parts, which connection is provided by the coupling members 19, 21 and the beam or spring 24.V The construction of the ysaid parts is such that in curves no lateral stresses are produced, the coupling member 19 being shiftable on the cranked shaft 17, and the beam 24 yielding forwardly and rearwardly by reason of its pivotal connection with the `fulcrum 47. The mechanisms of the machine can be readily controlled by the engineer, because the operating parts of the said mechanisms, and more particularly of the engine, the coupling means and the brake, are operative from points near the seat of the engineer.

lVhile in describing the invention reference has been made to a particular exam-ple embodying the same, I wish it to be understood that my invention is not limited to the construction shown in the drawings, and that various changes may be made in the general arrangement of the apparatus and the construction of its parts Without departing 'from thek invention.

l. A traction machine, comprising a Wheeled frame, transverse segmental guide- Way en said frame, a supporting member movable on said guide way, means for litting said member' int-o rictional engagement with a vehicle, and driving means 'for said machine.

2. A traction machine, comprising a -Wheeled frame, a supporting member movable on said trame, means for lifting said member into rictienal engagement With a vehicle, coupling means on said machine for positively coupling said vehicle, said coupling means comprising a rod extending transversely of said Wheeled frame and an eye en'ibracing 'the same, and driving means for said machine.

3. A traction machine, comprising a Wheeled frame, a supporting member movable on said frame, means i'or lifting 'said member into rictional engagement With a vehicle, a transverse member on said. frame roclrahle about a vertical axis and in position for pushing engagement With a vehicle, and driving means for said machine.

4. A traction machine, compris-ing a wheeled frame, a supporting member movable on said frame, means 'for lifting said member into frictional engagement With a vehicle, and driving means :t'or said machine remote from the end of the frame, the heightof said frame at said end being less than that oi the bottom parts of the equipment of a vehicle located below the end parts of the frames of the vehicles to be moved.

5. A traction machine, comprising a Wheeled frame, anengineers seat, driving means for said frame, asnpporting member movable on said frame, means for lifting said member into frctional engagement with a vehicle, means on said frame `for positively coupling the Vvehicle and frame, said driving means, coupling means and liftingmeans being operative from a point near said seat, and driving means -for said machine.

, 6. A traction machine, comprising a Wheeled 'rame composed of three-sections, two connected with the Wheels and the third one yieldingly supported on said two sections and having slots per iitting a play relatively to the axles of said. wheels, a supporting member movable on ksaid frame, means for lifting said member into frictional engagement With a vehicle7 and driving means for said machine. 1 I

7. A tractionv machine, comprising a wheeled frame, a supporting member movable on said iframe, means'for lifting said member into frictional engagement with a vehicle, a toothed gear on said frame adapted for operative engagement with operating mechanism of an apparatus separate from 'the machine, driving means for said machine and gear, and means for coupling said driving means with the Wheels or' the frame and With said gear. Y

8. A traction machine, comprising a Wheeled frame, a supporting member mounted on said frame for movement transversely thereof, means for lifting said member into engagement with a vehicle, and means for driving said Wheeled frame.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

' i nmNHoLn BRL-tuna. 

